Becky Sharpe dvd release

Redbeard · Post by **Redbeard** » Sun Dec 05, 2010 1:04 pm

I've had the great misfortune of seeing the recut cineccolor version of this films, but where in the hell is the restored dvd release????

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Mon Dec 06, 2010 3:30 am

The restored version of Becky Sharp is long overdue. But then what is Disney doing with A Star is Born(1937) which they own & have said to have completed their restoration for a Blu Ray & DVD release?

Marr&Colton · Post by **Marr&Colton** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:14 am

I'm not surprised Disney hasn't released the restoration of STAR IS BORN.

It's a public domain film and they usually only release proprietary films they can retain 100% rights for.

It's too bad--even though there is still a nice quality dvd out there--I think it is out of print now, and was released by Image Entertainment some years ago.

As far as BECKY SHARP, it also is PD, and it seems there was a restoration out on that recently, although the movie isn't the greatest--but certainly colorful. I think TCM shows it from time to time.

Ray Faiola · Post by **Ray Faiola** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:51 am

Back in the day, AMC ran the restored BECKY and the restored Technicolor trailer.

Jack Theakston · Post by **Jack Theakston** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 12:59 pm

I've heard through the grapevine that UCLA has been revamping their restoration of BECKY SHARP pending newer, better materials. That might be the hold-up.

Harold Aherne · Post by **Harold Aherne** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:22 pm

This does seem to be a particular problem with RKO; either films got sold out of their library or they had only temporary distribution contracts to begin with. Some RKO releases that aren't Turner-controlled do have enough interest for Criterion and Kino to release them, e.g. The Most Dangerous Game, She, All That Money Can Buy. Titles with less of a cachet, like Dancing Pirate and Winterset, haven't received adequate treatment on DVD (and while Dancing Pirate does survive in colour, it's hard to say if anything other than Cinecolor prints are still around).

Given its historical importance, Becky Sharp *should* get a nice edition, but it's not really Criterion material and it's hard to say if Kino or FA would be interested. Image might have been the most viable candidate some years ago, but they've pretty much moved away from older films.

Love Affair is another title in quasi-limbo. 20th purchased it for the remake (it had to be withdrawn from the C&C package), but didn't renew it and AFAIK have never released any edition of it. TCM has aired it many times, but because of 20th's nominal ownership I doubt that WHV would try to release it. That leaves PD outfits to pick up the slack, for better or worse.

-Harold

Jack Theakston · Post by **Jack Theakston** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 1:40 pm

(and while Dancing Pirate does survive in colour, it's hard to say if anything other than Cinecolor prints are still around).

The protocol, as I understand it, for printing Technicolor negs to Cinecolor was to use the red and blue bi-pack negatives and disregard the Green record. (This bi-pack set up was how Cinecolor films were shot anyway.)

If the surviving B&W prints of the film are from the green record, as was also common in that day, utilizing a black and white print and separations from a Cinecolor print, it may be possible to restore the film back to full color.

Scoundrel · Post by **Scoundrel** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:37 am

How did Disney receive the rights to the March\ Gaynor STAR IS BORN if it's PD...?

Richard P. May · Post by **Richard P. May** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:05 am

I believe WB also has some claim on it, due to their two remakes. Possibly something to do with underlying story rights.
I haven't heard of Disney having it, unless there's something to do with their acquiring the Selznick films owned by ABC.
The movie might be PD, but it appears there are other complications.

Scoundrel · Post by **Scoundrel** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 10:40 am

Thanks for clearing that up, Richard.

While it would be great to jump all the legal hoops and have a new restored DVD or Blu Ray available, copies of the Image DVD can be had for as low as 2.99 through Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Star-Born-Janet-G ... 26&sr=1-10

moviepas · Post by **moviepas** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 5:06 pm

The Blu Ray features, few as they are, of An Affair to Remember do not include Love Affair. Fox included the Charles Boyer Liliom in French with their DVD SE of Carousel & Kino also issued that title in a lesser quality print, I felt.

azjazzman · Post by **azjazzman** » Fri Dec 17, 2010 8:07 pm

Ray Faiola wrote:Back in the day, AMC ran the restored BECKY and the restored Technicolor trailer.

TCM has run it also.

Lamar · Post by **Lamar** » Sat Dec 18, 2010 9:38 am

Perhaps "A Star is Born" is being confused with "Nothing Sacred" which Disney does control and they did a restoration some years back but I've never seen the restored version.
http://digitalcontentproducer.com/mag/v ... restoring/